Computer science: The State Board of Education will vote Friday on adopting a set of academic standards for teaching computer science. The proposed standards have been developed over the past year. Computer science would become the fifth area of science with specific standards, joining nature of science, life science, Earth science and physical science. Gradebook.
Bathroom rights: Clay County School Superintendent Charlie Van Sant Jr. says his district will not comply with a federal directive to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. Florida Times-Union. Clermont pastor Christopher Walker has started an online petition protesting the bathroom directive. Daily Commercial.
Vote on charters: Newpoint Education Partners has reportedly forgiven millions in debt for three Pinellas County charter schools, and the board chairman has resigned. But the school board will still vote today on whether to give notice to close Windsor Preparatory Academy and East Windsor Middle Academy in St. Petersburg and Newpoint Pinellas Academy in Clearwater. Gradebook.
District criticized: The Palm Beach County teachers unions is criticizing School Superintendent Robert Avossa for not intervening sooner into problems at Palm Beach Lakes High School. Since November, several teachers have publicly condemned the principal, Cheryl McKeever, for creating a hostile work environment. Palm Beach Post.
Investigation requested: A Duval County School Board member wants an independent investigation into a November incident in which she claims she was followed by Superintendent Nikolai Vitti’s wife Rachel. Constance Hall says a dark SUV followed her aggressively after a meeting at which she was critical of Vitti. Vitti’s chief of staff, Wendy LeHockey, says she was driving the SUV that night and she wasn’t following anyone. Florida Times-Union.
Land deal off: The Lee County School District has backed out of an $11 million deal to buy property for a high school in Bonita Springs after finding evidence of a diesel fuel spill on the site. Fort Myers News-Press. Naples Daily News.
Graduation rates: Alternative, virtual and charter schools are dragging down overall high school graduation rates, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University. Researchers say 52 percent of the nation’s low-graduation-rate high schools are charter, virtual and alternative high schools. In Florida, it’s 49 percent. WFSU.
Superintendent search: The Lake County School Board will pay $32,000 plus expenses to the search firm Ray and Associates to lead the search to find its next superintendent. Superintendent Susan Moxley is retiring in in June 2017. Orlando Sentinel.
Girls football game: May 27 is confirmed as the date for the Jupiter High School Powder Puff girls tackle football game between seniors and juniors at the school stadium. The game had been canceled by school officials due to safety concerns, but supporters drew support from town officials and raised the money for insurance. Palm Beach Post.
Administrator staying: Jesus Jara, the deputy superintendent for the Orange County school district, is not hired as Nashville’s director of schools. He was one of three finalists. Jara supervises the county’s area superintendents and other administrators over academics. Orlando Sentinel.
Ex-teacher sentenced: A former teacher at Loggers Run Middle School in West Boca pleads guilty to transmission of harmful material to a minor. Matthew Webster, 42, sent naked photos of himself to a 14-year-old girl. He is sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sun-Sentinel.
Bus shooter sentenced: A 17-year-old boy is sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting two girls in a Jacksonville school bus in 2015. Edgar Manuel Robles had pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of shooting or throwing a deadly missile. Florida Times-Union.
Teacher resigns: A Deltona High School teacher, 55-year-old Daniel Rodriguez, resigns after an 18-year-old student tells officials that they had been involved in a relationship for a month. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Teacher removed: A teacher and volleyball coach at DeLand High School has been removed from the classroom after he sent inappropriate Twitter messages to a 9th grade volleyball player. Steven Foxworth, 29, says he was just trying to cheer the girl up. The Volusia County School Board will consider a recommendation for dismissal June 14. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Opinions on schools: The Pinellas County School Board has an easy decision to make today. It should vote to close three charter schools that have operated under management contracts with a company that has been indicted for grand theft and money laundering. Tampa Bay Times. Well-publicized security breaches prompt the Seminole County School District to offer two cybersecurity high-school programs for the 2016-17 school year. Walt Griffin, Orlando Sentinel. The rights of students are front and center in the news. Fort Myers News-Press. The Marion County School Board is sending the wrong lesson to students with its bathroom policy for transgender students. Hannah Willard, Ocala Star Banner. New computer science standards matter very little to the quality of education in math, science and computing in Florida. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
Student enrichment: Fourth-graders from Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools compete to name two Gulf Islands National Seashore ferry boats. The winning entries are Turtle Runner and Pelican Perch. Pensacola News Journal. Holocaust survivor David Markovic shares his story with third-graders at Orangewood Elementary School. Fort Myers News-Press. A fund-raising drive is underway to buy books for the Lake Shipp Elementary School Library. Lakeland Ledger.
